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 Richard
J. Pavlin
Executive Director of TLC—The Treatment and Learning Centers
Richard Pavlin, Executive Director of TLC—The Treatment and
Learning Centers since 1980, oversees the six services that
TLC provides, including The Katherine Thomas School for preschool though
twelfth grade students; The Outcomes Service, a
career assessment and employment service for youth and adults;
along with The Family Hearing Center, a full-service audiology
clinic for all ages; The Early Learning Center, a child care
service for children 2 months through 5 years of age; The
Outpatient Services, and The Testing & Tutoring Service,
providing speech, occupational therapy, and educational
testing, tutoring, and counseling services.
Pavlin is directed by a 17 member voluntary Board of
Trustees that governs the agency. TLC—The Treatment and
Learning Centers is accredited by CARF, The Commission on
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), and
is licensed by the Maryland State Departments of Education
Rehabilitation Services, and Health and Mental Hygiene.
Prior to his professional association with TLC—The Treatment
and Learning Centers, Pavlin served as Associate Director of
the Family Service of Montgomery County from 1972 to 1980.
Pavlin earned a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration
at George Washington University, Washington D.C., in 1977; a
Masters Degree in Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary,
Washington D.C., in 1971; and a Bachelors Degree in Liberal
Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, in 1965.
He is a 39 year resident of the Greater Washington Metro
area, and lives
in Potomac, Maryland with his wife, Claudia, who is an Art
Teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. They are the
proud parents of a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Emily. Pavlin
is a member of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, and works with
Action in Montgomery (AIM), a non-profit organization that
advocates for affordable housing.
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 Patricia
Ann Ritter, Ph.D.
Assistant Executive Director
As Assistant Executive Director of TLC—The Treatment and
Learning Centers, Dr. Ritter is responsible for the outpatient
departments of Speech, Audiology, Occupational and Physical
Therapy, Psychoeducational Testing and Tutoring and
Vocational Services. She is also responsible for the budget,
recruitment and retention, staff supervision and program
quality, as well as marketing and front desk administration.
For 17 years, Dr. Ritter has served as a vital member of TLC’s
management decision-making team, which influences the
organization’s mission, direction and operations.
Concurrently, Dr. Ritter also provides direction for the
preschool program and related services at TLC’s Katherine
Thomas School. In this capacity, she chaired the board/staff
working group that founded the school. Dr. Ritter and a
colleague created the original KTS philosophy, model, staffing
pattern and administration policy.
Dr. Ritter received
her Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology with a specialty in
Child and Adult Language and Second Language Learning from
Ohio University. She received her M.A. in Speech
Pathology/Audiology from the University of Texas at El Paso.
She also has a B.S. in Education - Speech and Hearing Therapy
from Bowling Green State University.
Dr. Ritter has served on committees for the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association, in areas of Quality
Improvement, Standards and Accreditation, and Administration
and Supervision.
In three decades as a speech-language pathologist, Dr. Ritter
has developed professional and personal skills in diverse
settings, adding to the breadth of experience she brings TLC.
Most important, however, Dr. Ritter has been allowed to
fulfill her personal goal of making a difference in the lives
of others.
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 Suellyn
Sherwood
Director of Operations, Research Blvd., Rockville,
Maryland.
Suellyn Sherwood, Director of Operations, is responsible for
the planning, organization, and management of TLC – The
Learning and Treatment Center’s financial operations and Human
Resources function. In this role, Sherwood implements short
and long-range financial plans, policies, and programs of TLC.
She assures all financial records and reports are accurately
presented on time, and interprets financial statements for the
Executive Director, Board, and staff. Sherwood additionally
prepares the annual budget with the Executive team; and
prepares for the annual certified audit report.
She joins TLC—The Treatment and Learning Centers with 21
years of auditing and accounting experience, in both the
corporate and health sectors, as well as for some non-profit
organizations. This multi-faceted work has taken place
throughout the Greater DC Metro area; and is marked by a
sequential growth in management and accounting responsibility.
Sherwood’s extensive experience has allowed a smooth progress
into her role as Director of Operations at TLC- The Treatment
and Learning Centers.
Suellyn Sherwood earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Accounting and Business
Administration at Thiel College, in Greenville, Pennsylvania.
She further attained her
State of Maryland License as a Certified Public Accountant in
May of 1989.(back to top)
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 Emily
Kinsler, CCC/SLP.D.
Director, Outpatient Speech-Language Service
Dr. Kinsler, Director for Outpatient Speech-Language Service
at TLC—The Treatment and Learning Centers, spearheads
evaluation and therapeutic services for TLC’s speech-language
clients.
Before joining TLC in 2003, Dr. Kinsler was a visiting
professor and clinical supervisor at Towson University in
Towson, Md., where she taught undergraduate courses and
supervised students in the Speech-Language Hearing Clinic. She
also served as a speech-language pathologist for the Hannah
More School (HMS) and HMS Severn River Middle School Project.
There, she assisted in creating an inclusive program for
middle school students diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome,
successfully integrating these children into mainstream
classrooms. Dr. Kinsler also created and implemented
Individual Education Plan (IEP) objectives for Hannah More
students with pervasive development disorders. The objectives
were then successfully applied in small group and classroom
settings.
Dr. Kinsler received her SLP.D. in speech-language pathology
from Nova Southeastern University. She received her M.A. in
the same specialty from the George Washington University. She
also has a B.A. in psychology from the University of North
Carolina.
Dr. Kinsler is president of the Maryland Speech-Language
Hearing Association (MSHA) and has served on the Executive
Board for the last two years.
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 Susan
Yaffe-Oziel, M.M.S., CCC-A
Director of Audiology, The Family Hearing Center
Ms. Yaffe-Oziel, Director of Audiology at TLC’s Family Hearing
Center, brings TLC and its clients more than 20 years of
experience. She leads operation of the audiology center, which
includes coordinating staff appointments, budget allocation,
patient services, outreaching to the community and publishing
a quarterly newsletter. Before joining TLC, Ms. Yaffe-Oziel
was an audiologist and clinical instructor at George
Washington University for 14 years. She was also a consultant
at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, MD where she
developed an OAE screening program for newborn and high-risk
infants. In 1993, Ms. Yaffe-Oziel co-wrote “Walking Through
the Early Stages of Hearing Loss,” published in the Self Help
for Hard of Hearing (SHHH) Journal.
Ms. Yaffe-Oziel received her a Masters of Medical Science in
audiology from Emory University. She holds a B.S. in Speech
Pathology/Audiology from Emerson College and has a Certificate
of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A). She also is a
member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
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 Debra
Paton
Director. Outpatient Occupational Therapy Service
Debra Paton, Director of Occupational Therapy, specializes in
sensory integration issues and helping children effectively
meet challenges presented at home, in school, and throughout
the community. At TLC, Ms. Paton oversees services provided
by TLC’s occupational therapists, including individual and
group therapy, summer programs, as well as consultation and
diagnostic services for children with a variety of
developmental delays which may include sensory
integration/modulation issues, motor planning difficulties,
fine motor delays, and/or visual motor and visual perception
deficits. Ms. Paton brings over 13 years of occupational
therapy experience to TLC.
Ms. Paton began her career with the
United States Army. Subsequently, she graduated from Kansas
State University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Social Work
and a second Bachelor of Sciences in Occupational Therapy from
Kansas University Medical Center. She worked with the Wichita
School System for ten years assisting children with a range of
diagnoses. At TLC, Ms. Paton’s wealth of knowledge in
Occupational Therapy services will help her reach her goal
which is to help children function better in their environment
and in their interaction with others.
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 Lisa
A. Lenhart
Senior Psychologist, The Testing and Tutoring Service
Dr. Lenhart, Senior Psychologist at TLC—The Treatment and
Learning Centers, brings more than 15 years of experience
working with children and adolescents. At TLC, Dr. Lenhart
conducts psychological evaluations on individuals of all ages
to determine academic or emotional concerns. She also offers
TLC clients individual and family therapy and consultation.
Before joining TLC, Dr. Lenhart was a senior clinical
psychologist at the Reginald S. Lourie Center in Rockville,
MD. In this capacity, she was responsible for conducting
evaluations on children under 7 years old who were seeking
mental health services. She also participated on the Child
Placement Consultation Team and oversaw the development of
outcome-oriented research.
Dr. Lenhart has administered more than 150 Rorschach Tests and
has led Area Health Education Center (AHEC) workshops on both
the assessment and treatment of aggressive children and
building self-esteem in aggressive youth. In addition, she was
a panel speaker for the League of Women Voters Forum titled
Community at Risk: Violence in our Midst. For six years, Dr.
Lenhart was the reviewer for The Journal of Behavioral Health
Services and Research. She is currently an active member of
the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Lenhart received her Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in clinical
psychology from the University of North Carolina. She has a
B.A. in psychology from Kent State University.
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 Janice
E. Jones
Tutoring Supervisor, The Testing and Tutoring Service
Ms. Jones, Supervisor of Tutoring Services at TLC—The
Treatment and Learning Centers, evaluates and assigns tutors
to best satisfy the needs of TLC students. She also creates
and leads workshops for tutors, school staff and the public,
offering guidance and direction at TLC and in the community.
She also tutors students of all ages in reading, writing, and
study skills. For six years, Ms. Jones has written articles on
tutoring, reading, writing and study skills for Washington
Parent magazine.
Before joining TLC, Ms. Jones was an adjunct professor in the
English Department at Montgomery College, where she taught
Reading and Composition Courses. She also taught an adult
reading class and a reading skills workshop for gifted and
talented high school students in the Continuing Education
Department. Ms. Jones has advanced training in the Wilson
Reading System, a multi-sensory phonetic reading method, and
Phonographix Reading, a clinical method. She has attended
various workshops, symposiums and conferences sponsored by the
International Dyslexia Association. She received training in
Orton-Gillingham reading methods during 3 years as an Academic
Therapist at the Center School of the National Institute of
Dyslexia.
Ms. Jones received her Master of Education degree from the
University of Maryland and has completed graduate-level
writing, literature and history courses at Wesleyan University
in Connecticut. She has a B.A. in English from Kansas State
University.(back to top)
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 Rhona
Schwartz
High School Director, TLC’s Katherine Thomas School
Rhona Schwartz, High School Director at TLC’s Katherine Thomas
School, is directly responsible for all facets of the high
school program, including administration, hiring and
supervising staff, overseeing admissions and outplacement,
maintaining state licensure and certifications requirements,
program planning and curriculum development and preparing
annual budgets.
As an administrator and a classroom teacher, she has more than
25 years of experience working with children and adolescents
with learning disabilities. Before joining KTS, Mrs. Schwartz
spent over eight years as the Assistant Head of the high
school at The Lab School of Washington. In this position she
supervised 40 teaching staff and curriculum for over 130
students, supervised achievement and state testing, ensured
development and implementation of IEPs, conducted meetings
with interdisciplinary staff, worked with placement
specialists from funding jurisdictions, and maintained contact
and conducted conferences with parents. Ms. Schwartz left the
high school to become the Director of Tutoring, where she
supervised 75 active tutors, planned and implemented staff
training, managed the annual budget, established partnerships
with other institutions and conducted educational workshops.
Mrs. Schwartz received an M.A. in special education from
Teachers College, Columbia University and a B.A. in youth and
community studies/sociology from State University of New York
at Stony Brook. She is a member of The Learning Disabilities
Association and the Council for Exceptional Children.(back to top)
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 Nancy
Amundson
Director, The Outcomes Service
Ms. Amundson, Director of TLC’s Outcomes Service, has 30 years
of experience in Vocational Rehabilitation. At TLC, she
spearheads programs that enable adults with brain injury,
cognitive impairments, neurological and developmental
disabilities to succeed in the community.
In 1996, she led Outcomes to receive the Maryland
Rehabilitation Association’s Organization Award, given for
“excellence in contributing to the well-being of persons with
disabilities above and beyond the purpose for which the
organization was established.” In addition to her
rehabilitation expertise, Ms. Amundson also has a strong
background in both management and public relations.
Ms. Amundson received her M.S. in educational rehabilitation
counseling from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and a
B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin,
Madison. She is a distinguished member of the National
Rehabilitation Association, Maryland Rehabilitation
Administration Association, Brain Injury Association of
Maryland, and the winner of the 1994 Jonathan M. Stein Staff
Appreciation Award.
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 Kelly
L. King
Director, The Early Learning CenterMs. King,
Director of TLC’s Early Learning Center, is responsible for
staff supervision, training and evaluation. In addition, she
is responsible for ensuring developmentally-appropriate
practices and that curriculum is implemented as outlined by
the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Before joining TLC, Ms. King was a full-time teacher at the
Quality Care Child Development Center in Hickory, NC, and a
co-teacher at the Tutor Time Learning Center in Durham, NC.
Ms. King received her B.A. in elementary education from
Lenior-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC. She also received infant
and toddler certification from the Montgomery County Child
Care Association (MCCA) and the 90-hour certification through
Montgomery College.
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Thomas Sweet
Interim Director, The Katherine Thomas Lower/Middle
School Programs
Mr. Sweet begins his term as Interim Director on July 1,
2008. He has completed course work for his PhD in
Educational Administration from the University of Virginia,
holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from George
Mason University and did his undergraduate work at The
College of William & Mary. He has been a special education
teacher in the Fairfax Public schools and is currently a
Program Coordinator at The Forbush School which is part of
the Sheppard Pratt Health System. Mr. Sweet and his wife are
expecting their first child in August and currently reside
in Vienna, Virginia. |
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